(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Istanbul is a happy Ferrari hunting ground. After a fourth position at Monaco, Felipe Massa will be keen to repeat his Turkey success and add continuity to Ferrari's 2009 season.
Teammate Kimi Raikkonen finished third at Monaco, so both Ferrari drivers can rightly feel improvement is on its way. Raikkonen is also the only other driver to win in Turkey.
Much is being discussed about the nature of the Istanbul circuit with its anticlockwise direction and fast sections. More than likely it's a circuit most teams have been waiting for.
Aerodynamics will play a significantly more integral role here. This Grand Prix could display how the rest of the season will pan out.
After Australia and the diffuser issue, all teams scrambled to configure their cars. Some had to redesign their cars and therefore have taken a little extra time.
However, Turkey may hold an all-important key to the performances of teams that so far have struggled. Qualifying will be watched with renewed interest.
Turkey could reveal where drivers are exactly with each other as the circuit allows for some terrific racing. Brawn and Jenson Button must be the favorites going into the race with their present form. But as with any Grand Prix, Sunday will be the proof. Massa must also hold some favoritism.
Renault's Fernando Alonso also has a great record at Istanbul being off the podium only once in four races. He is always one to watch, and as the season matures, he will no doubt be in the running.
Red Bull are knocking on the door of a second win for the season with Mark Webber keen to add a win to his achievements. His teammate, Sebastian Vettel, is also keen to restart his career rise after being stalled by Brawn's success.
There doesn't appear, at this point in the season, to be any dark horses. Toyota, with their front row in Bahrain, can't be discounted as they've been the same with Ferrari, thanks to their third and fourth spots at Monaco.
They are the only teams above their customers, even though Toyota was at the other end of the grid at Monaco. It's a sign of how quickly things can turn around in F1.
The design of the Istanbul Park circuit, with it's borrowed traits from other more traditional circuits, is sure to bring about the best from teams and drivers. It will no doubt bring about deficiencies of teams and drivers if they aren't up to scratch.
Button will continue to hold an advantage in the points race no matter who wins this weekend. With the British Grand Prix and the Silverstone finale as the next races on the calendar, he will not want a drop in form.
A slight form drop will allow other teams to capitalise. With Ferrari the most winning-est Constructor at Silverstone, they would like nothing better than to spoil the British party. Why not start at Istanbul? It'll have a mighty bearing on the the rest of the season.
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